Establishes China's First Closed-Loop Recycling System for Plastic Reagent Bottles, Reducing CO₂ Emissions by Over 1,200 Tons Annually

      On May 23, 2026, Taizhou Jiemao Plastics Co., Ltd. officially launched China’s first closed-loop recycling system for plastic reagent bottles in the biopharmaceutical industry in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. The initiative has already attracted 120 biopharmaceutical companies and research institutions to sign up. This innovative model marks a significant shift from the traditional practice of simply incinerating laboratory plastic waste, offering a new industrial solution toward achieving China’s “dual carbon” goals.

   “Previously, we spent 2,800 yuan per ton on disposing of used plastic reagent bottles. Now, by participating in Taizhou Jiemao’s recycling program, we actually receive a government subsidy of 150 yuan per ton, saving nearly 150,000 yuan annually,” said a representative from a local biopharmaceutical company. For businesses, this is not only a substantial cost reduction but also an important step in fulfilling environmental responsibilities.

     For years, managing plastic reagent bottles from laboratories has been a global challenge. According to the China Pharmaceutical Packaging Association, over 2.1 billion plastic reagent bottles are consumed annually in China, with more than 90% being single-use products and overall recycling rates below 3%. Most discarded bottles end up in landfills or incineration plants without proper treatment, resulting in massive waste of petroleum resources and releasing harmful gases such as dioxins, posing serious environmental risks. As a major hub for pharmaceutical and chemical industries, Taizhou hosts nearly 1,000 related enterprises and generates approximately 4.5 million discarded plastic reagent bottles each year—creating immense disposal pressure.

  “Recycling one ton of plastic reagent bottles saves 3.2 tons of crude oil and reduces CO₂ emissions by 4.1 tons, cutting carbon emissions by over 85% compared to traditional incineration methods,” explained Wang Jianguo, General Manager of Taizhou Jiemao Plastics. With current design capacity, the project is expected to recycle and process 5 million bottles annually, reducing plastic waste by 300 tons—equivalent to eliminating the annual carbon emissions of 650 passenger vehicles.

    Li Li, Secretary-General of the China Pharmaceutical Packaging Association, stated that Taizhou Jiemao’s initiative provides a replicable model for circular economy nationwide. “Closed-loop recycling of plastic reagent bottles not only addresses the issue of ‘white pollution’ in laboratories but also helps reduce production costs—an essential measure for achieving dual carbon goals,” she said. She recommended further refining relevant standards and policies to encourage broader corporate participation in plastic reagent bottle recycling.

     The project’s second phase is scheduled to be completed and operational in 2027, increasing annual processing capacity to 15 million bottles and covering all biopharmaceutical enterprises across Zhejiang Province. Meanwhile, Taizhou Jiemao plans to expand this model to Shanghai, Jiangsu, and other Yangtze River Delta regions, aiming to build a nationwide network for the recycling of plastic reagent bottles.